Certified professional boxing instructor Noel Clubb divides his time between MMA World Academy/Clubb Canada (Amateur & Professional Boxing) located in Scarborough, Ontario, where he is currently building a competitive boxing team, instructing technical boxing classes and providing personal training. Noel also instructs at Pound 4 Pound MMA, at both locations in Markham and Pickering, Ontario.

NOTE: UFC heavyweight Alistair Overeem is scheduled to visit MMA World Academy for a seminar February 16th. You heard it here first.

FELIX STURM VS SAM SOLIMAN

Sam Soliman (R) punches Felix Sturm. Getty Images

Clubb: Soliman pulled out an upset victory, winning a close decision to earn a shot at Geale’s IBF middleweight belt. He improves to 43-11, 17 KOs, while Sturm drops to a 37-4-2, with 16 KOs..

Yes, that was Michael Buffer with the announcement mishap at the end of the bout, calling Sturm the victor. He was quickly corrected by the audience’s initial reaction to his call.

Sturm’s aggressively attacked Soliman in the early rounds, knocking him down in the second round. As the fight progressed, Soliman stuck to his guns and began exploiting the holes in Sturm’s defense.

Soliman was surprisingly successful breaking down Sturm’s defense and landing good clean shots, outworking and out punching Sturm continuously, as the Sturm’s punch output dropped considerably.

There is room for debate that Sturm won this fight – it was close either way you look at it. I thought 116-111 was a favorable score for Soliman in the end. Again, it was a close bout.

Soliman, 39, will get one more chance to win a world title, however Geale will be most likely the odds-on favorite against Soliman when this fight is finalized.

My prediction was for a Sturm victory over Soliman. I have to tip my hat to Soliman, but he will be the underdog again when the Geale match-up is finalized.